IAITAM’s Official Certified Software Asset Manager (CSAM) Certification Training & Exam Package IAITAM Official Course - Includes IAITAM Course Materials & IAITAM Exam Voucher

Course Description

Welcome to IAITAM’s Certified Software Asset Manager (CSAM) Course

IAITAM stands for the International Association of IT Asset Managers.  IAITAM is a global professional organization founded in 2002 that sets industry standards and provides education for IT Asset Management (ITAM).  The eLearning course & exam package available on this page is brought to you by IAITAM.

Why CSAM?

SAM has become a crucial mandate for many organizations, recognizing Software Asset Managers as pivotal contributors to overall organizational success. To excel, Software Asset Managers must not only grasp the foundational business practices of Software Asset Management but also adeptly implement them in a manner tailored to their specific organization.

A proficient Software Asset Manager must align organizational objectives with the strategic potential of Software Asset Management to effectively accomplish those objectives.  Software Asset Management (“SAM”) encompasses the business methodologies supporting software utilization within an organization, often prompting a revaluation of how and why software traverses the organizational landscape.

The IAITAM Certified Software Asset Manager (“CSAM”) Course establishes a fundamental understanding of software asset management while addressing the fluid dynamics within the field.  From issues concerning software piracy and compliance to legislative changes and internal organizational complexities, a holistic evaluation is required to comprehend the array of external and internal factors reshaping IT asset management practices.

What you Learn

Participants will grasp the significance of Software Asset Management within the dynamic ITAM sphere of today. The demand for at least one dedicated individual within an organization, equipped with focused training and expertise in software management, has never been greater. The journey commences with the CSAM course, a pivotal instructional and certification program, intended as a core foundational pillar for any ITAM initiative.

Self-Paced Training

This self-paced certification course is available for 90 days from the date of activation. Course materials and training access are released upon registration. Students may progress through the certification at their own pace during the access period.

• With the purchase of the course, students receive access to the certification course and course materials.  
• Students will have 90 days from enrollment to complete the certification course and certification exam.
• Upon completion of the course, the certification exam will be released automatically the next business day at 8am ET.
• Students will then have 14 days from course completion to complete and pass the 3-hour certification exam, provided the exam is completed within the overall 90-day completion period.

In This Course You Will Learn:

• Implement Effective Software Controls: Design and apply controls for software inventories, integrating licensing, usage, locations, and documentation for all software products.
• Optimize Software Asset Visibility: Maintain visibility into software asset processes, building controls throughout the software lifecycle to uncover savings, increase value, reduce support costs, and ensure compliance.
• Develop Comprehensive Policies: Create, implement, and promote policies, processes, and procedures for software acquisition, installation, usage, and disposal.
• Ensure Legal Compliance: Ensure that all stakeholders understand and comply with legal requirements for software use.
• Optimize Application Delivery: Provide appropriate applications to specified users at optimal intervals, maximizing value and eliminating unnecessary software products.
• Problem-Solving Using Resources: Utilize available resources to solve Software Asset Management (SAM) challenges, recognizing their interconnected impact on business objectives.
• Implement Proactive SAM Practices: Establish and sustain a proactive Software Asset Management program, progressively replacing reactive processes.
• Combat Software Piracy: Develop and enforce software policies and procedures to identify and prevent software piracy and theft.
• Vendor Management Leadership: Provide strategic direction for developing and maintaining an effective Vendor Management program.
• Support Asset Management Teams: Empower, train, and support all personnel assigned to Asset Management roles.
• Foster Cross-Business Relationships: Build and maintain productive relationships across business units, including IT functions and customer-facing teams.
• Secure Executive Support: Advocate for and maintain executive management support for all IT-related initiatives.
• Promote SAM Awareness: Enhance employee awareness and understanding of Software Asset

Prerequisites

The CSAM Course is tailored for individuals who possess limited or no prior experience in the realm of Software Asset Management. This course holds vital significance for novice IT Asset Managers, along with other IT practitioners engaged in tasks like asset management, resource allocation, financial aspects, software licensing, contract oversight, and strategic development.

Outline

Module 00: Certified Software Asset Manager (CSAM)- Course Introduction

Module 01: IT Asset Management (ITAM) Profession Introduction

• International association of IT Asset Managers (IAITAM)
• 12 Key Process Areas (KPAs) in Certified Mobile Asset Management
• IT Asset Management as a Profession
• Exercises: Communication Styles Assessment & KPAs Assessment 

Module 02: Communication Styles Assessment & KPAs Assessment Discussion

Module 03: Advocating for your IT Asset Management Program

• Communication
• Education
• Policy Management

Module 04: Compliance Management

• Using Software to the Letter of the Law
• You Don’t Own the Software; You Just Own the Right to Use it
• You Are Being Monitored

Module 05: Creating a Compliance Management Approach

• How to prepare for a compliance event
• What documents are needed for compliance?
• Due diligence needed to build a compliance process 
• Quiz: Compliance Requirements for Software

Module 06: Proactive versus Reactive Software Asset Management

• Adhoc and Chaotic SAM
• Audit Letters
• Responding to an Audit Letter
• Preparing for the Dreaded Audit Letter

Module 07: Software License Management

• License Management Processes
• License Document Management
• License Types
• Quiz: Being Proactive

Module 08: Automation

• Tools for SAM
• Enable Predictability in Outcomes
• Choosing the Right Tool
• What Tools Can Do You

Module 09: The Software Acquisition Best Practices

• Starting with the Request
• Standards versus Non-standards
• More Acquisition Best Practice

Module 10: The Software Acquisition Process

• Benefits of SAM
• Savings Opportunities
• Analytical SAM
• Exercise: How Does Software Get Into Your Organization?

Module 11: Exercise Review: How Does Software Get Into Your Organization?

Module 12: Why You Should Negotiate Your Software Purchases

• Creating Terms Favorable to your Organization
• Setting the Legal Standard for Software
• What to do if You Can’t Negotiate

Module 13: Lawyers, Agreements and Terms

• Understanding License Agreements
• Must have Terms and Conditions
• Working with Lawyers

Module 14: Artifacts of IT Assets (AKA Documentation)

• Why are documents so important?
• The Lifecycle of SAM Documents
• Documentation as an IT Asset
• Exercise: Where is Your Documentation?

Module 15: Exercise Review: Where is your Documentation 

Module 16: Vendor Management

• Vendor Management Processes
• Vendor Management Roles and Policies
• Advantages to Managing Your Vendors

Module 17: Managing Vendors and Hardware Role in SAM

• Vendor Offerings and Removal
• What You and the Hardware Asset Manager Have in Common
• Collecting Feedback on Your Vendors

Module 18: Introduction to Project Management

• Why Use Project Management with SAM
• Project Management Offices (PMO) and SAM
• Project Planning Approaches
• Quiz: Project Management

Certification

Who Can Take the Exam?

To qualify to take the CSAM Exam, students much complete the Self-Paced course.

• Once completed your exam will be available to you (Open) for 14 calendar days.
• Once a test is started, you have 3-hours to take the exam.
• The exam cannot be paused at any point.

Exam Retake

• Students are provided with two attempts with the purchase of the course, unless otherwise prohibited.
• Both attempts are only available within the 14 calendar days window.
• If the first two attempts are not passed, an additional attempt package (including 2 attempts for 14 calendar days) can be purchased for $425 (membership pricing not applicable).
• If a student is unable to complete both attempts within the original 14 day window, a 7 day extension for these attempts is available for purchase for $50. This option must be purchased before the initial 14-day window expires.

Recertification

Recertification exams are required annually in order to maintain the certification.

• If your recertification has expired, you have up to 6 months from the original due date to purchase a new exam package for each certification you wish to renew.
• Please note that these exam packages are not eligible for any member pricing.  After 6 months, you will need to purchase and retake the course and exam to regain the certification, which also does not qualify for any member pricing.

How can we help? Customer Service is standing by to answer your questions.